Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1887-06-30
BIBLE SOCIETY.
Annual Meeting Held in the Sec
ond Presbyterian Church.

greeaDle auspices than 1t was to-day
week. The rain which had commenced
the evening before kept up unceasing
lv all day and until late at night. The
result was apparent in the attendance
at both sessions.
Promptly at three o'clock President
DR.. VIM. Elmer raped the Board of
Managers to order in the lecture room
of the Second Presbyterian Church.
Sitting in the room weres Secretary j.
L. Rice, Treasurer Charles Reeves,
Messrs. Enoch Hanthorn, Rev. Thos.
Steck, Joel Fithian, Rev. DR.. Brod-
head, B. T. Bright, NJ. w. Appelgate,
James J. Reeves, DR.. Enoch Fithian,
Rev. H. E. Thomas, w. G. Nixon, DIR. J.
G. Kirby, Prof Caleb Allen, and Rev.
J. H. Payran.
The meeting was opened by Prof.
Allen, of the West Jersey Academy,
leading in prayer, and Secretary Rice
followed with the minutes of last meet
ing held May 9th in the office of DR..
William Elmer. These were approved
without change and the report of the
treasurer, Mr.. Chas. Reeves, was next
read. The report showed that the fl
nances of the society were in a very
healthy condition. In June, 1886,
there was balance in the treasury of
$435. In 1887, from January to the
present time there had been contribu-
ted and realized from the selling of
books by the society the sum of $746-
IA. There had been paid out by the
society $7641 II, and there was a bal
ance in the treasury of $362.S7. There
was also large number of volumes on
hand as well as a large number that
had been distributed during the year.
After considerable conversation which
did not settle to business, the Board
adjourned to go. up stairs for the an
nual sermon.
When Mr.. J, G. Bowen, the agent of
the society, stood in the pulpit and
opened the services by announcing a
hymn he was met by less than seven
ty-five persons who braved the ele-
ments and were present. Prof. James
Lang presided at the organ, and DR..
Elmer sat in the pulpit with Rev. J.
H. Payran and Mr.. Bowen. After
prayer and a hymn, Rev. J. H. Payran,
of Trinity M. E. Church, rose to deliver
the annual sermon. He chose for his
%ax
trance of thy Word giveth light" In
his comparison he said that the Bible
was as the Son of God, the light of the
world. To-day we can see this won
derful light as it goes upon it's mission
of revolutionizing the whole world.
This Word is the source of life, and
comes with comfort to cheer us. The
Bible is the only book ever printed
that we never tire of reading. Like a
we'll of water it quenches the thirst
and is a communication between us
and our God. After this plain, logical
sermon, the gentleman offered prayer,
and was followed by Mr.. J. G. Bowen,
agent of the society, in few remarks.
He told of the good work of the Bible
Society, and how it was reaching a
class of people low down in the relig-
ious scale. Two hundred and forty
one houses he had visited where he
found no Bible, and, with but few
exceptions, the gift of the Holy Book
was most gratefully received. Many
'God bless you" had been given him
by this class of people who were hun
gering for Gods word. He asked that
prayer should be offered for those who
were destitute of the Holy Scriptures.
A hymn followed and Rev. j. H.
Payran dismissed the few with bene-
diction.
The Board of Managers Immediately
re-convened in business session after
the service and proceeded to the cleo
tion of Board for the ensuing year
and the following were chosen: DR..
VIM. Elmer, Chas. G. Phillips, George
Tomlinson, Enoch Fithian, DR.. J. G.
Kirby, o. E. Peck, JAS j. Reeves, J.
L. Rice, Enoch Hanthorn, Joel Filth
ian, R. P. Jones, Chas. Reeve, M. w.
Appelgate, Caleb Allen, B. T. Bright.
The new Board Immediately re-
elected the old officers to serve the en-
suing term. They are as follows:
President-Dr. VIM. Elmer.
Vice Presidents-Cha B. Phillips,
Geo. Tomlinson, Jas. J. Reeves.
Treas-Chas. Reeves.
Asst. Treas.-Emma L. Sawyer, of
Vineland.
Secretary-J. L. Rice.
The sum of $3.50 was ordered drawn
upon the Treasury, in favor of the
American Bible Society. No other
business of Importance presenting
itself, the meeting was adjourned.
In THE EVENING.
The steady downfall of rain con-
tinued in the evening, and naturally